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Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic FH8

Portability
71
Imaging
53
Features
85
Overall
65
Olympus OM-D E-M1 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH8 front
Portability
96
Imaging
39
Features
32
Overall
36

Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic FH8 Key Specs

Olympus E-M1
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 497g - 130 x 94 x 63mm
  • Introduced October 2013
  • Renewed by Olympus E-M1 II
Panasonic FH8
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-120mm (F2.5-6.4) lens
  • 123g - 96 x 57 x 19mm
  • Revealed January 2012
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Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic FH8 Overview

Here is a in-depth review of the Olympus E-M1 versus Panasonic FH8, one being a Pro Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Compact by rivals Olympus and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the E-M1 (16MP) and the FH8 (16MP) is fairly comparable but the E-M1 (Four Thirds) and FH8 (1/2.3") provide totally different sensor sizing.

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The E-M1 was manufactured 22 months later than the FH8 making them a generation apart from one another. Each of these cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-M1 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic FH8 being a Compact camera.

Before diving right into a full comparison, here is a brief summary of how the E-M1 scores against the FH8 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M1 over the Panasonic FH8

 E-M1 FH8 
RevealedOctober 2013January 2012Fresher by 22 months
Manually focus More precise focusing
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution1037k230kSharper display (+807k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic FH8 over the Olympus E-M1

 FH8 E-M1 

Common features in the Olympus E-M1 and Panasonic FH8

 E-M1 FH8 
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display measurement
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen

Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic FH8 Physical Comparison

In case you're aiming to carry your camera frequently, you will need to factor in its weight and volume. The Olympus E-M1 features outside measurements of 130mm x 94mm x 63mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.5") with a weight of 497 grams (1.10 lbs) while the Panasonic FH8 has sizing of 96mm x 57mm x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") with a weight of 123 grams (0.27 lbs).

Look at the Olympus E-M1 versus Panasonic FH8 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you are working with at that time. Following is a front view sizing comparison of the E-M1 against the FH8.

Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic FH8 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-M1 and FH8 is 71 and 96 respectively.

Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic FH8 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic FH8 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it is tough to envision the gap in sensor sizing just by seeing specifications. The visual here should offer you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the E-M1 and FH8.

To sum up, each of the cameras have the same megapixel count but not the same sensor sizing. The E-M1 provides the larger sensor which will make achieving shallower DOF easier. The fresher E-M1 is going to have an edge in sensor tech.

Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic FH8 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic FH8 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic FH8 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-M1
Portrait photography with Panasonic FH8
71
you can focus manually
flash sync speed is above average (1/320s)
MP count good (16MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
comes with face detection focus
delivers RAW formats
34
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
supports face detection focusing
lack of manual focus
manual exposure not available
no external flash support
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Street photography info
Panasonic FH8 Street photography info
78
screen tilts up and down
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
supports touch to focus
weather sealing
lighter than competitors (497 grams)
great ISO range (25,600)
63
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average (123 grams)
fixed screen
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Sports photography advice
Panasonic FH8 Sports photography advice
70
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking autofocus
weather sealing
supports phase detect auto focus
low battery life (350 CIPA)
40
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
supports tracking autofocus
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Travel photography details
Panasonic FH8 Travel photography details
65
lighter than competitors (497 grams)
weather sealing
supports touch to focus
MP count good (16MP)
low battery life (350 shots)
does not have a selfie friendly display
69
lighter than average (123g)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
built-in flash
reasonably wide (24mm)
does not have Time Lapse mode
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
slow max aperture (f2.5)
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Landscape photography info
Panasonic FH8 Landscape photography info
73
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
great ISO range (25,600)
delivers RAW formats
weather sealing
low battery life (350 per charge)
43
reasonably wide (24mm)
screen size is decent (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f2.5)
manual exposure not available
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
does not have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-M1
Vlogging with Panasonic FH8
36
screen is touchscreen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
comes with face detection focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
comes with external microphone support
lighter than competitors (497 grams)
does not have a selfie friendly display
33
reasonably wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detection focusing
lighter than average (123g)
slow max aperture (f2.5)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
video res low (1280 x 720 pxls)
does not have external mic jack
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Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic FH8 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M1 and Panasonic FH8
 Olympus OM-D E-M1Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH8
General Information
Company Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus OM-D E-M1 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH8
Class Pro Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2013-10-28 2012-01-09
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePIC VII -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 25600 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points 81 23
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 24-120mm (5.0x)
Largest aperture - f/2.5-6.4
Macro focus distance - 4cm
Number of lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.9
Screen
Screen type Tilting Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 1,037k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen technology - TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 2,360k dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.74x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 8 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shooting speed 10.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range no built-in flash 5.60 m
Flash modes Flash Auto, Redeye, Fill-in, Flash Off, Red-eye Slow sync (1st curtain), Slow sync (1st curtain), Slow sync (2nd curtain), Manual Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/320 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video format H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 497 grams (1.10 pounds) 123 grams (0.27 pounds)
Physical dimensions 130 x 94 x 63mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.5") 96 x 57 x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 73 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 23.0 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 12.7 not tested
DXO Low light score 757 not tested
Other
Battery life 350 images 260 images
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLN-1 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Price at launch $799 $149